Title: Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties #1)
Author: Kendra Leigh Castle
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 368 pgs
Release Date: July 1, 2011
Author Website








Enter the world of the Dark Dynasties . . .

For centuries, shapeshifting vampire Tynan MacGillivray has prowled the night as an outcast, valued only for his ferocious hunting skills. When a feud among the immortals escalates into all-out war, he is ordered by his ruthless queen to locate a Seer-a human woman with a special gift-who can secure victory for their clan. Ty's search leads him to a quiet New England town, but once he has the Seer in his grasp, her touch awakens within him a hunger like he's never known . . .

Lily Quinn has always been different. Since childhood, she's had vivid nightmares and an eerie sixth sense. When a sexy, silver-eyed stranger demands her help, Lily plunges into a new world of danger and sensuality. With Ty, she discovers sizzling passions she cannot deny and powers she cannot control. Soon, it is clear that Lily is much more than a Seer-she holds the key to ancient secrets and unthinkable destruction. But will a vampire's vow of eternal protection stop these evil forces . . . or unleash her dark destiny?




Rating -


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My Review:

This is the first in the new Dark Dynasties series by Castle with five known Dynasties (bloodlines) in the US, "freaking gorgeous" vampires, a Mulo - a gypsy curse, Shades, an unwanted but undeniable desire, a strange mark, a telekinetic power, betrayal, an unlikely romance and wry tongue-in-cheek humor. All make for a wonderfully creative world for this paranormal romance. It reminds me a little of the old TV series Kindred: The Embraced but with a better story line. This grabs you from the first page and the next thing you know you've been reading for several hours immersed in Lily and Ty's world.

With zingers like the following throughout the story, you can't help but chuckle even in the midst of all of the tense action:
"If only she could find a well-educated, Shakespeare-quoting bad boy who still had a thing for sexy tattoos and maybe a mild leather fetish, she might at least have a shot at avoiding her probable future as a crazy old cat lady."
"I'm not the stupid girl who always dies first in horror movies. My boobs aren't big enough."
"You've been really nice. For a vampire kidnapper."
"And I don't have any wooden stakes on me. I'm no Buffy. I'd be toast."
"I won't mutilate your corpse, and I won't fry you. I won't even run up the telephone bill. But you're not tying me up again."
And you just gotta love a story that makes references to both Buffy and Pinhead from Hellraiser.

Lily, the heroine and English lit professor, is plagued by the same nightmare night after night and inexplicably drawn to Ty with unwanted desire even as she's terrified of him.

Ty is a hot 300 year old Scottish cat shifting vampire from the mongrel line, in service to the leader of the Ptolemy line for centuries. He is drawn to Lily and desire flickers in him.

When Lily gives into the pull she's felt for Ty and seduces him on the couch it is so seductive and makes him purr. "It figured that she'd finally met the perfect man for her, and he turned out to be a cat-shifting vampire with issues." "It was the story of her time with Ty moments of bliss, hours of irritation and the occasional life-threatening event."

Ty knew "sleeping with her had been an incredibly bad idea. So naturally, [he'd] gone right for it...Feelings. Oh hell, he wasn't having an attack of those, was he?"

I applaud Castle for putting a description of the Dynasties in the front of the story like a glossary.

I adored this story, was sorry it ended so soon and have put the next in the series on my wishlist already. Fans of the paranormal romance, urban fantasy and vampire genres should put this on their wishlist.